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October 2, 2008

Play Of The Game: Nailing Vlad

Kevin Youkilis's rifle throw from short right field to Mike Lowell at third base, nailing Vladimir Guerrero by about 10 yards, was likely the play of the game.Boston had a 2-1 lead and there was only one out in the bottom of the eighth -- and that had come on a diving catch by Jacoby Ellsbury. Guerrero had singled to left off Justin Masterson and when Torii Hunter dropped a short pop over the infield and near the right field line, Vlad tried to hobble his way to third. The 3-5 play took all the air out of any potential rally. Howie Kendrick hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning, the Sox got two more runs in the ninth, and Bot slammed the door.

A commenter at the Globe mentioned a key non-decision from Mike Scioscia:

Why wasn't there a pinchrunner for Vlad? The guy is slower than Ortiz and Lowell these days. This was a one-run game in the 8th inning. If Vlad was to get up again in the 9th it meant the Angels would have scored 3 times already. Got to tie the game first.

Ellsbury didnot think he'd get to Teixeira's pop fly to start that half-inning:

It was hit kind of high, but we were playing deep to respect his power. ... I came in running full speed, and I glanced down at Lowrie, thinking maybe he had a shot at it, hoping he had a shot at it ... making sure we don't collide. It's loud out there, and even if someone calls for it, you're probably not going to hear them. ... I really don't get too fired up when I make diving catches. I was pretty fired up about that one. It was late in the game. Playoffs. First out of the inning. It kind of killed off a potential rally. Definitely my favorite one of the year. Normally, 100 percent of the time, I know whether I can catch a ball. That one, I wasn't sure.

Since adjusting his swing to get rid of a lengthy uppercut, Ellsbury has caught fire again. In his last 15 regular season games, he hit .415/.424/.631, with multiple hits in nine of the 15 games. He had three hits last night -- and he's blogging!

Josh Beckett threw long toss (150 feet) before last night's game. Terry Francona would not call him a lock to pitch Game 3, but: "He has to answer some physical questions every step of the way, and today was a good one."

[O]ur obligations are to put the best out there we can. I've been with Mike for five years now. We have a lot of respect for what he has done. But still, we're always going to do what we think is right for our ball club.

The one run the Angels scored off Lester (7-6-1-0-1-7, 117) was unearned. After Jason Bay's home run gave him a one-run lead, Lester struck out four of the next five batters. ... Jonathan Papelbon's post-season shutout streak is now at 15.2 innings.

Game 9 of the Angels Lacking Bashing Strength (ALBS, emphasis on the BS part). ... During their past nine postseason games, the Angels now have scored 16 runs. Not coincidently, they've lost eight of those games. They've lost all eight, in fact, in succession.

FJM:Cubs-Dodgers starts in 10 minutes. ... But let's get right to the heart of the matter. How do Yankee fans feel about it?I mean, that's obviously the #1 fucking thing we all have on our minds, right? Where do average, run of the mill Yankee fans stand on the Cubs-Dodgers series? Someone should fucking write about that. Is everyone going to just ignore that huge fucking question mark? Is the liberal media just going to blow off the single most important question heading into the Cubs-Dodgers series -- namely: how do Yankee fans feel about it?! This is an outrage. This is a farce. I cannot believe that nobody is going to investigate how Yankee fans feel about the Cubs-Dodgers series. I swear to God--Oh. Okay, good. Someone wrote about it. Phew.****

Think I'd also rather have a triple header starting at 2:30 (rather have it start at 1) than to have three games on at once on different channels, or like FOX, one game seen in one area and another seen in another.

9-pitch AB by Brett Myers - the pitcher - with every ball taken, and every ball fouled off greeted with thunderous applause. C.C. walks Rollins, then Shane Victorino of all people cleans 'em off with a grand slam!

Strange things happening all around us! Sabathia hadn't given up 5 runs for the Brewers all season, and the first game of the playoffs for him, he gives up 5 so far.

So what was the deal with OC and BallFour? Was there a pitch up and in that got OC yappin'?

I saw a clip wherein Ballfour pointed right at OC as he (B4) was leaving the mound. I'm sure Eck liked that -- though maybe he wanted a nickle for copyright infringement.

We need more of that. Batters saying shit to pitchers, pitchers coming back with a FU or some chin music, either guy doing his thing and saying "FY, MFer!" -- you know, some real fucking old-fashioned thee-ate-errr on the diamond!

We're going to meet the Rays in the ALCS and we are going to have our hands totally fucking full with those non-stop scoring and winning, more-ice-tea-demanding motherfuckers.

In my less guarded moments, I think back on the 2007 "inevitable" Red Sox and I am convinced that the 2008 Rays are the very definition of inevitable. It seems like those guys are just gonna steamroll right over every goddamn thing in their path until there ain't no more things to steamroll over.

“I don’t think I put myself in a position to just play one game. I don’t think that’s the right way to do it. I’m looking play the whole postseason. Be at every game. I don’t think that’s anything special.”

Lowell, quite understandably, seems as though he’s grown tired of answering questions about his hip. When asked one question about his health, he tried changing the subject.

“A lot of anticipation for the big match-up today, Palin and Biden,” Lowell said. “Heard what Anderson Cooper and Larry King had to say. I’m on pins and needles for tonight.”

Daisuke Matsuzaka arrived sporting a Mohawk, a tad fuzzy at the top, that several media members described as “awful.” The new style didn't pass muster with David Ortiz, either. Ortiz, sitting on the clubhouse couch watching the White Sox-Rays game, summoned Matsuzaka from his locker, smiling and using more than one word that cannot be printed in Extra Bases. He ragged on Matsuzaka – using more words that cannot be printed in this space – through Matsuzaka’s translator.

ish said... A Red Sox/Rays ALCS will go 7, easily, I'd say. Although I couldn't tell you who would win it. I probably wouldn't bet because my confidence is low. But for no money, I'd say the Rays.

The Rays? is that tongue in cheek?....If Beckett is Beckett and Lester continues his dominance no one will beat us Sunday is the Biggest game of the postseason , If Beckett is healty its all over...I hope the matchup comes to fruition , cause it would be a lots of fun....

Phillies were leading the Brewers by 3 in the 8th yesterday. They still won, but the Brewers had the tying run at second. Be interesting to see how the 9th inning plays out, since Lidge threw well over 30 pitches yesterday.